Ray Castellano

Editor, Home, Auto & Money

Ray Castellano edits Moneystretching's coverage of homeownership, car costs, debt and taxes. That means insurance renewals and claims, escrow and mortgage insurance, car loans and dealer add-ons, credit card math and IRS notices. He works from primary sources such as the CFPB, the FTC, the IRS, state insurance departments and published rate data, lists them at the end of every article, and updates a piece when the rules or the numbers change. He doesn't sell financial products and doesn't recommend specific lenders or insurers.

33 articles

Stories by Ray Castellano

— A disability claim status letter on a desk showing an initial decision of "Denied" and an appeal deadline of 60 days, with a sticky note reading "hearing: 57.5%". Retirement Your disability denial letter starts a 60-day clock — A security checklist on a desk showing a credit freeze at three bureaus marked free, next to a line citing $7.7 billion in reported fraud losses for people over 60. Debt & Credit The one question to ask when a grandchild calls needing money — A retirement account notice on a desk showing a required withdrawal of $18,868 for 2026, with a sticky note reading "25% if missed". Retirement Your first IRA withdrawal deadline is April 1, and it has a catch A retirement plan account statement from a former employer on a desk, with the vested balance circled and a note asking whether the account was ever rolled over. Retirement Your old 401(k) may be in an IRA you never opened A tax balance-due notice on a desk with the failure-to-pay penalty line highlighted and a sticky note asking whether first-time abatement applies. Taxes What to say when you call the number on your penalty notice A debt collection validation notice on a desk with the date of last payment highlighted and a sticky note asking whether the debt is past its statute of limitations. Debt & Credit A collector cannot sue you on a debt past its legal deadline A credit card statement on a desk with the minimum payment warning box highlighted, showing 19 years to pay off a $7,500 balance at minimum payments. Debt & Credit Your card statement has a box showing the 36-month payoff amount A dealer inventory aging report on a desk with the line "2026 or older models in stock: 88%" highlighted and a note reading "2027s arriving". Debt & Credit Why December had the biggest incentives and the highest prices A repair shop estimate on a desk with the total "$4,800" highlighted and a sticky note reading "1,204 mi late". Insurance Your "extended warranty" is not a warranty, and the FTC says so Illustrated auto policy declarations page on a desk with the line "Mature driver course discount: Not applied" highlighted and a sticky note reading "Ask for this". Insurance Your insurer still thinks you drive to work five days a week